[Effects of acupuncture on bone metabolism and serum estradiol level in ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis rats].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the effect of acupuncture (Acu) on bone metabolism and serum estradiol (E2) in ovariectomized (OVX) rats for studying its underlying mechanism in treating osteoporosis.


METHODS
Forty female SD rats of six months were randomized into sham operation (sham), model, Acu and Diethylstibestrol (DES) groups, with 10 cases in each. Postmenopausal osteoporosis model was established by removing ovaries under anesthesia. In Acu group, bilateral "Dazhu" (BL 11), "Shenshu" (BL 23) and "Pishu" (BL 20) were punctured and stimulated for 30 minutes, once daily for 60 days. Rats of DES group were drenched with saline+DES (22.5 microg/ml) 1 ml/100 g, once daily for 60 days. At the end of experiments, blood samples were collected from femoral artery for assaying serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) contents by using biochemistry, and serum bone gla protein (BGP) and E2 levels by immunoradioassay.


RESULTS
Compared with sham group, uterus wet weight, serum E2 content in model group decreased significantly (P < 0.01) while body weight, serum ALP, BGP and TRAP levels in model group increased significantly (P < 0.01, 0.05). Compared with model group, uterus wet weight and serum Ez content in Acu and DES groups increased significantly (P < 0.01); while body weight, serum ALP, BGP and TRAP levels decreased considerably (P < 0.01). No significant differences were found between Acu and DES groups in serum E2, ALP, BGP and TRAP levels (P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Acupuncture can suppress abnormal increase of body weight and decrease of serum E2 level, and significantly downregulate serum ALP, BGP and TRAP levels in OVX rats, which may contribute to its effect in relieving osteoporosis.
Ma
Jie
J
College of Acu-moxibustion & Massage, Chengdu University of Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610075, China. doctor_majie@126.com
Yun-guang
Hu
H
Zhang
Da-hui
DH
D000135:Acid Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000378:metabolism*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000097:blood; D015675:Osteocalcin / Q000097:blood; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D010052:Ovariectomy; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D000071681:Tartrate-Resistant Acid Phosphatase
D007527:Isoenzymes; D015675:Osteocalcin; D004958:Estradiol; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D000135:Acid Phosphatase; D000071681:Tartrate-Resistant Acid Phosphatase